FUKUSHIMAAizuwakamatsu & Oze

Famous for its traditional crafts and the intense loyalty of its samurai

Set in a beautiful valley, Aizuwakamatsu offers onsen, hiking, and river sports, as well as some well-preserved traditional townscapes. The area is also famous for its lacquerware. It was the last stronghold of the samurai at the end of the 19th century, and there is much to see of this history.

Don't Miss

A taste of local seafood and mountain vegetables, including miso dengaku, tofu grilled with miso

Nanukamachi Street, with retro buildings preserved from the Taisho period (1912–1926)

Stroll around Ouchijuku, an old Edo period town with unpaved streets, that looks like a movie set

How to Get There

The town can be reached via shinkansen from Tokyo in just under three hours.

If using this route, you will need to change trains at Koriyama before continuing on to Aizuwakamatsu Station.

For travel within the city, you can purchase a 500 yen one-day pass for the Sightseeing Bus which departs from Aizuwakamatsu Station. It stops at all of the major tourist sites.

Quick Facts

Aizuwakamatsu was the home of the Byakkotai, a famous military unit from 1868 to 1869

Sake, pottery, and lacquerware are some of the largest industries in Aizuwakamatsu

The heart of samurai culture in the north

A land of soaring sharp hills on flat plains, and encircled by mountain ranges, Aizuwakamatsu is known as the land of the samurai. It was one of the last strongholds of the Edo period (1603-1868) and clashed with the Meiji government forces during the brutal Boshin Civil Wars of 1868-1869.

Explore many historical locations showcasing samurai culture

Many of the main sights of Aizuwakamatsu are located on the Aizu Loop Bus route. These include Tsuruga Castle, the seat of the lords of Aizu, situated in the Tsuruga Castle Park. Once a site of fierce fighting, the park is now a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, and hosts a charming lantern festival in winter.

Tragedy of the White Tiger Troop

At Mount Iimori, a memorial commemorates the 19 members of the Byakkotai (White Tiger Troop), a group of teenage samurai who committed ritual suicide during the Boshin War. While you're there, climb the temple of Sazaedo, known as the "snail-shell" temple, with its unique double-helix staircase, and maybe gain some good karma in the process.

See how a high-ranking samurai lived

The restored Aizu Bukeyashiki is one of the most complete mansions of its kind. Stroll through Oyakuen, a royal medicinal garden first established in the 14th century. You can see many medicinal herbs growing along the garden paths that wind around the lake, then stop at the tea house for a healthy brew.

Take a dip

Just ten minutes from the city center by car or taxi, you will find the rejuvenating Aizu Higashiyama Onsen Village, with 17 ryokan and hotels providing private and public hot springs. Enjoy the elegant, historical bathhouses and teahouses along the river, where geisha once entertained and enchanted lords, samurai and poets.

Unique arts and crafts

Aizuwakamatsu is known for its own particular arts and crafts, such as its unique style of lacquerware (Aizu-nuri), with delicate, handpainted motifs.

The area is also known for maki-e, a method of brushing on designs with gold and silver powder. You can visit some of the shops which run these workshops and take home your own maki-e souvenir.

Pottery is also a significant industry here, and you can buy some to take home with you or make your own. Munakata climbing kiln is a pottery kiln that is built into the side of a mountain and has various chambers within it. When it's not in use, you can take a tour through it.

Rich regional cuisine

You can try Aizu cuisine at many traditional restaurants, some of which have been around for hundreds of years. Since the region is surrounded by mountains, the local food is centered around dried and preserved seafood and mountain vegetables. If you have a sweet tooth, try agemanju, a deep-fried bun stuffed with sweetened azuki beans.

Aizu also has a proud sake tradition, and you can visit some of the breweries and take a tour with samples of some of the locally produced sake. One such place is the famous Suehiro Sake Brewery, conveniently located on the Aizu Bus Loop route.

Charming villages and dramatic nature

Further out from Aizuwakamatsu city are several regions of interest. You can explore the postcard-perfect Ouchijuku town, where thatched-roof houses line the main street. Or visit Kitakata and take a walking tour of the city's kura, or traditional Japanese warehouses, and sample some soul-warming Kitakata ramen.

Experience the stunning nature on offer in the Urabandai region, where volcanic forces have blessed the land with multi-colored lakes. Or go extreme on some of the best skiing that Japan has to offer on the slopes of Mt Bandai.